what is the verb used when getting rid of evil spirits [closed]
What is the verb that means "to get rid of evil spirits"
Not ghost-busting. Something more serious, less comedic.
Solution 1:
Exorcise is the formal, technical term for driving out evil spirits, deriving from exorcism, an official ritual of the Catholic church.
exorcise:
1.to seek to expel (an evil spirit) by adjuration or religious or solemn ceremonies.
2.to free (a person, place, etc.) of evil spirits or malignant influences.
-- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/exorcise
As an alternative, banish is a good general term meaning to drive out.
banish
1. to expel from or relegate to a country or place by authoritative decree; condemn to exile:
2. to compel to depart; send, drive, or put away:
--http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/banish?s=t
Solution 2:
To exorcise is the word you're looking for (cross-posted with @Chris Sunami.)
- To expel (an evil spirit) by or as if by incantation, command, or prayer.
- To free from evil spirits or malign influences.
(American Heritage Dictionary)
In addition, phrasal verbs like cast out or drive out could work too, depending on the context:
and to have authority to drive out demons.
(http://biblehub.com/mark/3-15.htm, the NIV translation)
Solution 3:
Cast out is often used in modern biblical translations:
That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. (Matthew 8:16; quoted translation is ESV)
Out of the 53 translations of this verse included in that link, a strong plurality (26) use cast out.
As defined by MW, the phrase indicates driving out, or expelling.
Solution 4:
I don't disagree that exorcise is a more specific verb for OP's context, but I would just point out these usage figures from Google Books...
to exorcise the ghost - about 4,150 results
to lay the ghost - about 9,230 results
That's sense 23 in thefreedictionary...
lay - to quiet or make vanish: to lay a ghost.